Question

Construct one or more simple machines, or a combination of them (lever, pulley and inclined plane) using easily available materials, such as cardboard, wooden strips or rulers, pencils or bolts (to act as a fulcrum), thread or rope, small pulleys (or two bottle caps stuck together), and paper cups to hold small weights. Be imaginative in your design. Use your model to lift or move a small load, measure the effort and the load, and calculate the mechanical advantage.

Answer 1

Construct a simple machine, such as a lever (using a ruler balanced on a pencil) or a pulley (using bottle caps), and use it to lift a cup filled with coins. Record the load (the weight being lifted) and the effort (the force you apply). Then calculate the mechanical advantage using the formula: Mechanical Advantage = Load ÷ Effort. A longer effort arm on a lever or a longer inclined plane (ramp) should result in a mechanical advantage greater than 1.